PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marc Huntington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiimu Salaani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Huntington comes into the arena with MARC SMASH U! blaring out of the sound system. Tiimu Salaani has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Huntington
vs
Salaani

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marc Huntington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tiimu Salaani!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Huntington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Salaani.
Salaani misses with an uppercut.
Salaani throws a right hand that misses
enabling Huntington to counter with a crisp jab.
Salaani misses the shot to the body.
Salaani misses with a wild body shot.
Salaani moves out of range as Huntington strikes.
Salaani misses with a hook.
Salaani misses with a looping right.
A jab from Huntington misses.
Huntington ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salaani moves away.
Huntington moves out of range as Salaani strikes.
Huntington swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Salaani stalks Huntington and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Huntington's face. Huntington staggers backwards, shaken.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salaani misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Huntington misses the target.
Huntington moves out of range as Salaani strikes.
A slow jab from Salaani misses its intended target.
Salaani misses with an uppercut.
Salaani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salaani throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salaani takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Salaani throws a looping overhand right but Huntington ducks down to avoid it.
Salaani uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Huntington.
Salaani will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Huntington fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Salaani looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salaani. Huntington does a little dance to reset his feet.
Huntington tries to clinch but Salaani moves out of range.
A nice side step and Salaani releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Huntington throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salaani throws a counter combo.
Salaani swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salaani cracks Huntington with a right hand to the side of the head.
Huntington digs a good body shot into Salaani's ribs.
Huntington is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Salaani's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Salaani misses with a wild body shot.
Huntington is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Salaani.
Salaani takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Salaani.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salaani throws a jab but it's blocked by Huntington.
Huntington avoids the body shot from Salaani.
It looked like Huntington wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Huntington forces Salaani back against the cage and clinches.
Huntington keeps control of Salaani as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Salaani letting Huntington take a breather here.
Salaani working hard to break the clinch.
Huntington misses with a hook to the ribs.
Huntington prevents Salaani from breaking the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Huntington.
Huntington stalling in the clinch.
Salaani is looking to break free of the clinch but Huntington has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huntington scores with a hook to the body.
Salaani wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Huntington has him pressed against the cage.
Salaani has a couple of punches blocked by Huntington.
Salaani has had enough of the clinch but Huntington keeps him there for the moment.
Huntington tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Salaani prevents a body shot from Huntington.
Huntington tries to throw a body punch but Salaani avoids it by throwing Huntington back against the cage.
Salaani misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salaani's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Huntington is stalling here.
Salaani is looking to break free of the clinch but Huntington has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Huntington - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Huntington fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salaani tries to stall but Huntington uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Huntington goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Salaani content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Salaani leaning his opponent against the cage.
Salaani scores with a shoulder strike.
Salaani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tiimu Salaani will probably get the nod.
That's time! Huntington's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Salaani throws a big shot that misses.
Huntington looks to land a right hand but Salaani moved out of range.
The crowd cheers as Salaani lands an impressive looking overhand right. Huntington doesn't seem phased though.
Huntington shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A left lands for Salaani.
Salaani will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Salaani moves away from the strike by Huntington.
Salaani scores with a jab to the head.
Huntington staying out of range there.
Huntington blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huntington throws a right hand that misses
enabling Salaani to counter with a crisp jab.
Huntington swings for the body but Salaani moves out of range.
Huntington cracks Salaani with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Salaani misses the jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salaani staying out of range there.
It seemed like Salaani was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Huntington slips under a jab from Salaani.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salaani scores with a shot to the body.
Salaani tests Huntington's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Salaani swats away the attempt to clinch by Huntington.
Salaani takes a swing at Huntington's ribcage but misses.
Salaani misses with a wild combination.
Huntington throwing a counter right hand but Salaani manages to avoid it.
Huntington uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salaani.
Huntington throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Salaani sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Salaani throws a hook but Huntington avoids it easily.
Huntington moves out of range of the strikes.
Tiimu Salaani seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Huntington throws a lazy right hand but Salaani sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Salaani throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Huntington throws a jab when Salaani was well out of range.
Huntington misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salaani lands a lovely overhand right.
Huntington bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Huntington throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Huntington lands with a straight right. Salaani didn't see that one coming.
Salaani has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Salaani drops his hands momentarily and Huntington takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Huntington catches Salaani with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Huntington waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salaani.
Salaani lands a jab to the head.
Salaani throws a looping overhand right but Huntington ducks down to avoid it.
Salaani looks to land a right hand but Huntington moved out of range.
Salaani scores with a body shot.
Salaani misses with a hook.
Huntington throws a right hand that misses
and Salaani counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salaani keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Huntington slips a jab from Salaani.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huntington connects with a body shot that sends Salaani's belly button to the back.
Salaani punishes Huntington's body with a nice straight punch.
Huntington throws a big shot that misses.
Huntington dodges the punch combination from Salaani.
Salaani missing with a left hand there. Huntington was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Huntington was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Salaani stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Huntington uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salaani.
Huntington throws a predictable looking body shot
and Salaani counters with a stiff right hand.
Salaani misses with a body shot.
Huntington wants to clinch
and Salaani counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Huntington thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salaani lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Huntington has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Salaani digs a good body shot into Huntington's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salaani throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salaani missing with a left hand there. Huntington was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Huntington drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Huntington throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Salaani tries to bum rush Huntington with a series of wild strikes but Huntington uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Huntington was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Huntington moves into range and clinches up with Salaani.
Salaani is trying to force a seperation but Huntington has the dominant position.
Huntington misses with a punch on the inside.
Salaani prevents a body shot from Huntington.
Huntington misses with some punches.
Huntington scores with a nice hook to the head.
Huntington lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiimu Salaani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A big right from Salaani misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Huntington. Salaani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Huntington misses with a body shot.
Salaani fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tiimu Salaani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salaani misses with a few strikes there.
Huntington moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jab from Salaani.
Huntington throws a jab when Salaani was well out of range.
Salaani misses the jab.
A little feinted left hand from Huntington on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Salaani keeps the fight on the outside.
Salaani swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Huntington swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huntington tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Salaani manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Huntington walks into a stiff left hand from Salaani.
Salaani fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Huntington on the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Huntington misses the target.
Salaani throws out a counter right but Huntington avoids it with no problem.
Salaani thuds a left hand into Huntington's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salaani connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A big right from Salaani misses.
Huntington slips a jab from Salaani.
Huntington keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Huntington's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Salaani connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Huntington scrambles back to his feet.
Salaani throws a jab when Huntington was well out of range.
Salaani is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Huntington.
Salaani swings for the body but Huntington moves out of range.
Huntington slips under a jab.
Huntington blocks a jab.
Salaani just misses with a punch to the body.
Salaani misses with an uppercut
and Salaani takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Huntington moves out of range of the strikes.
Huntington is looking to counter punch.
Salaani lands a jab to the nose.
Huntington jabs at Salaani's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huntington scores with a jab to the body.
Salaani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Huntington throws a looping overhand right but Salaani ducks down to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Salaani. Huntington does a little dance to reset his feet.
Huntington ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Huntington is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Salaani fails to land with a series of punches.
Huntington is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Huntington fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salaani manages to avoid it.
Huntington throws a jab when Salaani was well out of range.
Salaani misses the shot to the body.
Salaani catches Huntington with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Huntington drives through and clinches with Salaani against the cage.
Huntington misses with a body punch.
Huntington has Salaani pressed against the cage.
Huntington misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salaani prevents a body shot from Huntington.
Huntington has Salaani pressed against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Huntington.
Salaani is trying to push Huntington away but Huntington has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Salaani throws a head punch that misses.
Salaani taking a breather.
Salaani letting Huntington take a breather here.
Salaani blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tiimu Salaani is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Huntington throws a head punch that misses.
Huntington dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Salaani.
Huntington dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Salaani can't break the clinch.
Huntington looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Huntington lands a nice uppercut.
Salaani is looking to break free of the clinch but Huntington has double underhooks.
Marc Huntington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Huntington misses with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiimu Salaani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Salaani winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Tiimu Salaani!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Tiimu Salaani!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Tiimu Salaani!

Tiimu Salaani wins by unanimous decision!